Abdominal and back exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the field of abdominal and upper body exercise. More particularly, the present invention is associated with an exercise apparatus having separately supported platform for a portion of a user combining coordinated upper body exercise with the motion of the platform. When the knees of a user are positioned on the platform and the hands grasping the handle, the platform is pulled forward for abdominal exercise. The upper body and back muscles are used to return the platform. A plurality of rollers support the platform to provide a desirable resistance to movement. Movable supports are provided to raise either end for inclined exercise adding intensity. Alternately, the user may sit on the platform, whereby the leg muscles of the user return the platform against incline resistance for total body exercise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present invention relates to an upper body and abdominal exercise apparatus that combines upper body movements and abdominal exercise. More particularly, the present invention is associated with an exercise apparatus having separately supported platform for a portion of a user combining coordinated upper body exercise with the motion of the platform. When the knees of a user are positioned on the platform, abdominal exercise is achieved by grasping a handle attached to the framework and moving the platform forward. Back exercise occurs when the platform is pushed to the rear. Alternately, the user may sit on the platform, whereby the leg muscles of the user return the platform against incline resistance for total body exercise.

2. State of the Art

The benefits of regular exercise to improve overall health, appearance and longevity are well documented in the literature. For exercise enthusiasts the search continues for safe apparatus that provides total body exercise for maximum benefit in minimum time.

The prior art is abundant with apparatus intending to exercise the abdominal muscles. A category of abdominal exercise apparatus with the user in a kneeling position and having a moving knee platform follow. Nenoff in U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,769 shows a slanted beam acting as a track for a moving knee platform to be used with a fixed handle. Mattox in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,961 shows a knee support to be used with a rolling handle against resistance. Oswald in U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,483 shows a track having both knee pad and handle on rollers for reciprocating motions. Lundin in U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,403 displays a sliding exercise apparatus inclined with cables for various types of exercise. Gaston in U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,045 shows a platform on rollers to be used with a fixed body support that can be used with either the knees moving or the hands moving.

Myles et al. in U.S. Pat. Application No. 2004/0077468 shows a handle and knee platform both on rollers coordinated with cables. Nelson in U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,404 shows a knee platform with rollers on an inclined track and a pivotable arm support. Brown et al. in U.S. Pat. Applications 2007/0149370, 2008/0070765 and 2008/0070766 show a knee platform on rollers supported by an inclined curved track and generally a fixed handle offered in the industry as the Ab Coaster.

Trotter in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,894 shows a body support plate combined with a moving T handle for abdominal exercise. Sukhovitsky in U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,605 shows a combination of knee rollers with elbow rollers on a supporting surface for abdominal exercise. Campanaro et al. in U.S. Pat. Application No. 2008/0200317 shows a lower arm platform combined with a moving knee platform having wheels guided by an incline track for abdominal exercise. Hamer in U.S. Pat. Application No. 2007/0135280 shows a body support platform having wheels which track upon a board for exercise.

There remains a need to combine the benefits of upper body exercise with the abdominal exercise in a simplified apparatus. There also remains a need for an exercise apparatus that provides the additional versatility of exercise for the lower body leg muscles with platform movements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the motion control of a platform where the platform supports the knees of a user. More particularly, apparatus is provided that offers abdominal exercise in conjunction with upper body motion. Further, the platform can be a seat for the user to exercise the leg muscles.

In the preferred embodiment, the exercise apparatus is configured for upper body and abdominal exercise. The framework is positioned upon a supporting surface and comprises a pair of parallel frame rails and connecting members. Rollers are pivotally connected to each frame rail to support a platform. Approximately, a plurality of 20 rollers on each frame rail provides a sufficient length of support for the platform movement during abdominal and back exercise. Approximately 14 rollers support the platform allowing low cost polymer rollers without the ball bearings needed when only 4 rollers riding on a track support a platform as shown in prior art. Further, these polymer rollers provide a desirable amount of rolling resistance to platform movement.

A guide is attached beneath the platform and spaced between the rollers on each frame rail acting as side to side guidance. A control rod is positioned between the frame rails under the platform to prevent the platform from being removed from the rollers. A handle is positioned at one end of the frame rails for arm support.

To operate the exercise apparatus, a user kneels upon the platform with feet oriented away from the handle end of the frame rails. The hands of the user grasp the handle while the abdominal muscles are used to pull the platform forward towards the handle. To return the platform, the upper body including the back muscles push the platform to the rear. In the rearmost position of the platform, the user is nearly in a prone position. The lower legs may be positioned diagonal to the platform with the feet of the user hanging to the side to exercise the oblique muscles.

Movable supports are positioned at both ends of the frame rails to raise either end. Using the movable support near the handle raises the handle end of the exercise apparatus to incline the frame rails for increased intensity of abdominal exercise. Alternately, the movable support at the rear end of the exercise apparatus can be used to raise the rear end of the exercise apparatus for an incline that increases the intensity of back exercise. Leg exercise can be accomplished by sitting on the platform with feet in contact with the handle and pushing the platform up the incline to the rear.

In summary, this invention provides the user with abdominal exercise provided by the platform movement of the knees towards the handle and upper body and back exercise when the platform is pushed to the rear. The plurality of polymer wheels supporting the platform provides desirable resistance to platform movement. Moreover, the obliques may be exercised by positioning the lower legs diagonal with the platform. Movable supports at either end of the exercise apparatus allows for increased intensity of exercise due to an incline of the framework. With the rear movable supports extended, the user can sit on the platform with feet in contact with the handle allowing leg exercise working against incline resistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope or combinations, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a left side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus with the user in a knelling position without incline constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 positioned with the handle end of framework raised;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 positioned with the rear end of the framework raised for the user to be in a seated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings FIGS. 1,2 and 3 in detail, the frame rails 70,74 are shown connected by side members 73,75. Leveling members 78 position the frame rails 70,74 above supporting surface 99. Rollers 88 are connected to frame rails 70,74 at pivots 89. Handle 95 is attached to frame rails 70,74 at one end. Platform 80 is supported by a portion of rollers 88 and is free to move back and forth along rollers 88.

Guide 96 shown in FIG. 3 is positioned between rollers 88 on frame rails 70,74 to prevent side to side drift. Control rod 90 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 positioned beneath platform 80 and attached to side members 73,75. Control element 98 is shown in FIG. 3 attached to guide 96 and concentric with control rod 90 to allow back and forth movement of platform 80 but prevent platform 80 from being removed from rollers 88. Movable supports 84,86 are shown retracted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows movable support 84 extended about pivot 83 on frame rails 70,74 and in contact with supporting surface 99 to incline frame rails 70,74 with handle 95 elevated. Gravity causes platform 80 to move to the lower rear end of frame rails 70,74. The incline increases the intensity of abdominal exercise needed to move the platform 80 uphill.

FIG. 5 shows movable support 86 extended about pivot 85 on frame rails 70,74 and in contact with supporting surface 99 raising the rear end of the exercise apparatus. Gravity causes platform 80 to move with the incline towards handle 95. The incline increases the intensity of back exercise needed to move the platform 80 uphill rearward. Alternately, the user can sit on platform 80 with the feet of the user in contact with handle 95 for leg exercise needed to push platform 80 uphill.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the claims, rather than by foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

1) an exercise apparatus configured for upper body and abdominal exercise; a framework, said framework configured to be positioned upon a supporting surface; a plurality of rollers, each said roller pivotally connected to said framework; a platform, said platform configured to support a user and in rollable contact with a portion of said plurality of rollers; a handle, said handle attached to said framework and positioned at one end; said platform configured to be pulled towards said handle with said user in a kneeling position by the arms of said user grasping said handle whereby said user is able to exercise said upper body and abdominal muscles. 2) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said handle end whereby said framework is inclined relative to said supporting surface to increase the intensity of abdominal exercise. 3) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said framework end opposite said handle end whereby said framework is inclined relative to said supporting surface to increase the exercise intensity of the back muscles of said user. 4) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a control rod, said control rod positioned beneath said platform and attached to said framework. 5) The exercise apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a control element, said control element attached to said platform and guided by said control rod. 6) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a guide, said guide attached to said platform and in contact with a portion of said rollers whereby said platform is constrained to move in a back and forth direction. 7) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said framework end opposite said handle end whereby said framework is inclined relative to said supporting surface to allow the user to sit upon said platform with a foot in contact with said handle to exercise the leg muscles. 8) An exercise apparatus configured for upper body and abdominal exercise; a framework, said framework having a pair of frame rails and configured to be positioned upon a supporting surface; a plurality of rollers, each said roller pivotally connected to said frame rails; a platform, said platform configured to support a user and in rollable contact with a portion of said plurality of rollers; a guide, said guide attached to said platform and in contact with a portion of said plurality of rollers causing said platform to have back and forth movements; a handle, said handle attached to said framework and positioned at one end; said platform configured to move back and forth with said user in a kneeling position using said handle to constrain the arms of said user whereby said user is able to exercise said upper body and abdominal muscles. 9) The exercise apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said handle end whereby said frame rails are inclined relative to said supporting surface to increase the intensity of abdominal exercise. 10) The exercise apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said framework end opposite said handle end whereby said frame rails are inclined relative to said supporting surface to allow the user to sit upon said platform with a foot in contact with said handle to exercise the leg muscles. 11) The exercise apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a control rod, said control rod positioned beneath said platform and attached to said framework. 12) The exercise apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a control element, said control element attached to said platform and guided by said control rod. 13) An exercise apparatus configured for upper body and abdominal exercise; a framework, said framework configured to be positioned upon a supporting surface; a plurality of rollers, each said roller pivotally connected to said framework; a platform, said platform configured to support a user and in rollable contact with a portion of said plurality of rollers; a control rod, said control rod positioned beneath said platform and attached to said framework; a control element, said control element attached to said platform and guided by said control rod; a handle, said handle attached to said framework and positioned at one end; said platform configured to be pulled towards said handle then pushed away from said handle with said user in a kneeling position by the arms of said user grasping said handle whereby said user is able to exercise said upper body and abdominal muscles. 14) The exercise apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said handle end whereby said framework is inclined relative to said supporting surface to increase the intensity of abdominal exercise. 15) The exercise apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said framework end opposite said handle end whereby said framework is inclined relative to said supporting surface to increase the exercise intensity of the back muscles of said user. 16) The exercise apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a guide, said guide attached to said platform and in contact with a portion of said rollers whereby said platform is constrained to move in a back and forth direction. 17) The exercise apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a movable support, said movable support operably associated with said framework to raise said framework end opposite said handle end whereby said framework is inclined relative to said supporting surface to allow the user to sit upon said platform with a foot in contact with said handle to exercise the leg muscles. 18) The exercise apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said plurality of rollers are composed of polymeric material intended to rotate directly upon a pivot shaft having a chosen rotational resistance. 